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On CNBC's Market Watch television program today, an Intel vice president gave a demonstration of Intel's Easy PC technology during a feature called "Tech 99." The demonstration centered around the unit's "sleek" design, easier setup, 3 second wake up time, and smaller enclosure. Pat Gelsinger, Intel's VP and GM of Desktop Products, also demonstrated a neat feature where the computer announced that a USB keyboard had been unplugged, useful for new users.
During the demonstration, the CNBC host asked Mr. Gelsinger how much of the Easy PC initiative can be attributed to the iMac and cited Michael Dell's positive comments about the iMac. The host also pointed out that iMac's did not have Intel inside. Mr. Gelsinger responded with a smile:
We have been working on many of these technologies longer than the iMac has been around, but the iMac was certainly a wake-up call.
The Mac Observer Spin: A wake up call indeed. There is little doubt that Mr. Gelsinger was correct about Intel having worked on many of the technologies in the Easy PC initiative for longer than the iMac has been around. The only real question is why is it taking so long to bring these technologies to market. Apple has accomplished so much, with far fewer resources than the Wintel hegemony.
This is strictly our opinion, but it was not clear that we were expected to take seriously the claim that Intel was really pushing these new efforts before the iMac. The fact is that the Wintel hegemony had grown complacent in their role as market leaders. Beige was fine, the corporate market was great, and the Celeron was being well received in the consumer market. Apple had not shown much innovation for years before Steve Jobs came back and shook up the entire market with the iMac. And while the iMac was using more off the shelf technology, it was still an entirely Apple concept that could only have come from one company, Apple.
Of course, Apple is used to bringing technologies and products from concept to market. PC companies have little history in doing so, instead relying on research done by a host of component manufacturers, and in particular, Microsoft and Intel. It is no surprise then, to see Intel, a company that does not manufacture their own computers, leading the Wintel pack in actually coming up with their own, original, iMac-inspired concepts.
[Update, we received this letter from a former Intel employee:
Actually, Intel makes a lot of computers. They just don't have Intel's name on them. These are complete computers, not just motherboards.
A former Intel employee.
With this in mind, it is even less of a surprise. Thanks to the Observer (who requested anonymity) who let us know this!]
Intel - CNBC - Apple
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